Planning a move to Sussex

[WonderingAway]

Hello!

Just looking for a bit of advice and a nudge in the right direction.

My mum and I currently live in London and looking to move to Sussex. We're planning to visit next month to look at some areas and hoping for some suggestions. We're currently thinking of areas in West Sussex but are open to other areas.

We would like somewhere with a nice high street or close proximity to one and open spaces to walk.

Thanks!

What's your budget and what kind of property do you want?

We would ideally want a 3 bedroom house with a garden and looking at a budget of around 800k

Where are you currently looking at in W Sussex?

You'd easily get that in most places in West Sussex ! More likely a lovely 4 bed detached

East not West but Lewes sounds ideal with lovely shops and great countryside to walk in.

Chichester is nice.

Do you want to be near the coast or more inland?

Horsham would be worth a look. Also Rustington near Littlehampton. Haywards Heath. Burgess Hill.

A lot of West Sussex is more villages and a bit rural if you go inland.

We live in Worthing and love it but someone will be along shortly to say it’s a shit hole!!

Arundel, Shoreham, Chichester

Not quite Sussex but I would take a look at Emsworth, just into Hampshire. I’m originally from Chichester and visited recently staying in Emsworth and was really impressed that the high street still had a couple of butchers, a green grocer and a fish shop.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We would ideally prefer coastal but inland would work too as long as we have countryside to walk in.

We currently have Chichester, Arundel, Angmering and Horsham on our list

Thank you! We're happy with either coastal or inland as long as it can tick our boxes. I've seen mixed reviews about Worthing! But will add it to our list to see

In that case, Horsham might be worth looking at. It's a lovely town with a lot going on. £800k will likely get you a detatched house with more than 3 beds, depending on what you are looking for (and where).

Personally, I would avoid Roffey and the Needles (though the nearest school to the Needles is fantastic) and also maybe some of the new build areas that have popped up with very little in the way of resources.

Midhurst is lovely but might be a bit small for you.

Have a friend who has lived in Worthing for years and seems happy there too. She has said Ferring is very nice.

What's your definition of a nice high street? High end national chains, 100's of shops, or just a good few tens of independents and a Waitrose?

Do you need train links?

I was always amused when Southwick was featured on Escape to the Country because of its marina. But it's not a bad place and has some nice property. Shoreham always flatters to deceive. It should be so much better than it is. You can add Hove into that category too. Brighton is grim but has a great arts scene.

You could look at Bexhill for an odd-ball alternative. It has a lovely promenade just off the high street and a great little arts venue.

Also second Emsworth as a worthy alternative to look at

Just a few good independent shops and a good supermarket would work for us. We don't need great train links as we won't be commuting for work etc.

Yes have looked at Bexhill, might do an East Sussex list too and not completely rule it out yet

That's good. Then I'll throw in Storrington (no station/not on coast but near) to check out. Its neighbour Steyning is more frequently touted, but I get the same vibe about Steyning as I do from Shoreham. It feels to me as if it should be better than it is.

I grew up in Horsham and recently left .. I think it's what people think of as naaiiccee ..

It's got history , it's a market town with a decent enough high street .

We moved away as we found it dull and wasted more for our money as it's expensive but having said that £800k is plenty enough to get a great house there .

Another vote for Rustington. Great little high street with Waitrose and Tesco Express. And a coast line. Beware getting too near the coast as it has been victim (like many towns) of visitors (sic) pitching up on the greens close by. I wouldn't bother with Littlehampton. That could be a great town but it sounds like a number of its anti-social issues are not being addressed.

On the East, I'd swerve Hayward's Heath and Burgess Hill, but consider Hurstpierpoint and, to a lesser extent, Hassocks.

Thank you everyone. We've got our list and heading down this weekend to explore!

Good luck. Keep us posted. Let us know which places you liked and which didn't float your boat. Then we may be able to identify others in line with your preferences.

I’d go to Chichester like a shot.

It has a small town feel, but big town facilities: brilliant theatre and gallery, cinema, great shops and independent cafes. Sea, beautiful countryside. Beautiful historic town centre.

Thank you! It's definitely on our list!

Hi!

We have been driving around and our top 3 places are Uckfield, Lewes and Henfield.

We feel like Bexhill etc are a little too far East for us.

And found Steyning a bit too small.

We weren't so keen on Rustington, Angmering and Shoreham.

And Arundel and Worthing were 50/50.

We still have Chichister, Midhurst, Petworth, Pullborough, Lindfield, Ditchling, Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint.

Is there anyting I'm missing?

Thanks!

Love Midhurst and Petworth ❤️

The area around Polegate is lovely too but very rural.